Brussels, 12/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Donors Conference for Macedonia, organised on Turesday in Brussels, allowed EUR 307 million to be collected (the target was EUR 256 million, with donations or loans foreseen from different donors, see yesterday's EUROPE p.12 and 8 March, p.14). The European Commission, for its part, cleared up the mystery that it had allowed to hang over the figures before the Conference. The contribution from the Community budget to Macedonia for the years 2001 and 2002 is EUR 188 million, as foreseen in the CARDs programme of assistance to the Balkans and in the Community budget. At the Conference, the Commission included 140 of the EUR 188 million on its contribution card. This is EUR 68 million in macrofinancial assistance (28 million in donations and 40 in loans), EUR 32.54 million for reconstruction and EUR 3.53 for supporting implementation of the framework agreement for peace (decentralisation, generalisation of employment for ethnic Albanians).
As the meeting opened, Macedonian Preime Minister Ljubco Georgievski insisted on his country's attachment to a peace policy. "With the Ohrid agreements, the constitutional changes, decentralisation and adoption of the amnesty law, we have met all the preconditions set for peace in our State and for all citizens", he said. Ljubco Georgievski insisted on the fact that the economic situation in Macedonia was good before the conflict broke out early 2001, which was confirmed by the Director of the World Bank for South East Europe, Christiaan Poortman. The latter spoke of the exceptional aid needed to put Macedonia back on track. He also strongly insisted, however, on the requirement of a good economic policy. Macedonia must continue its reform process, he said, especially for privatisation of the private sector and organisation of its administration.
The International Crisis Group, for its part, called upon the international community to "finance peace in Macedonia, not corruption", which is extremely high in Macedonia. The ICG considers it is essential for donors to make it clear whether they will suspend aid in the event of fraud. This Group also calls on the European Commission to appoint an "anti-corruption adviser" for the Macedonian government.